I recently stumbled upon this study and I think it gives a new perspective and possibilities about this issue in EQ variance in music:
https://www.researchgate.net/public...d_its_Relation_to_the_Level_of_the_Percussion
There are many key points that I would like to cite:
- "
A clear relationship was found; tracks with more percussion have a relatively higher LTAS in the bass and high frequencies. We show how this relationship can be used to improve targets in automatic equalization. Furthermore, we assert that variations in LTAS between genres is mainly a side-effect of percussive prominence.·"
In my main post I talked about how I had to change my EQ constantly in order to enjoy differents styles of music and different eras when listening to them at the same average volume. Here the study acknowledges the frequency differences and how an automatic EQ could fix the problem of constantly and manually change EQs.
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One type of application that could benefit from LTAS analysis of big datasets is automatic equalization in mixing and mastering. The field is fairly new, with researchers trying out different techniques and focusing on different aspects."
Another problem I also mentioned at my original post is that, me being a music producer that mixes and masters his own music, is concerned about how the music will be felt compared to the rest of music, same or different music genres, and which EQ shape to pursue. If studies like this helps into finding a universal and automatic EQ for mixing and mastering then that also is very good since it eliminates the dilemma of same-genre-EQ vs flat-EQ. Of course this automation/standardisation would only guide the overall EQ shape, it shouldn't change or say how the dynamics of the music should be, and from all we have mentioned in the thread so far is clear that we want our music to be as dynamic as we want, no following a loudness standard of overcompressed mastering.
- "
In a previous study of LTAS in commercial recordings, differences between genres were analyzed [8]. One of the main findings was that genres such as hiphop, rock, pop and electronic music had louder low frequencies (up to 150 Hz) than genres such as jazz and folk music. The same relationship was evidentalso for the high frequencies (5 kHz and above), with hip-hop, rock, pop and electronic music being the loudest. The differences in the mean LTAS were clear: some genres have a (relatively) louder low-end and high-end of the spectrum, whereas other genres such as jazz and folk music generally have a (rela- tively) higher sound level in the mid frequencies.
Why is this? Although certain genres have somewhat stylistic preferences with regards to the LTAS (a prime example being the heavy bass in reggae), mas- tering engineers generally try to keep the “symphonic tonal balance” as a basic reference for most pop, rock, jazz and folk music [14]. Could there then be something else than the general genre that give rise to the differences in LTAS? Given that genres that were found to have a higher sound level in the low end and high end of the spectrum have more emphasis on rhythm, the relative level of the rhythm instruments seems to be a relevant factor. In this study, we will explore the relationship between the sound level of the percussive instruments in a musical mixture and the LTAS."
So the study also comments about the differences of EQ between music styles and genres and their previous explanation, but in this case they analyse and shows that the "level of percussive sounds" is the main reason of the variance in EQ, even across song of the same music genre. I think is worth reading.
Hopefully more studies and tools should help for both making and listening to music, no matter the style or genre, at the same average volume and not feeling a lack (or excess) of some part of the frequency.
